Diesel Emissions in New Jersey

The maker of the earth established the earth,
not creating it to be a waste, but to be lived in.
- Isaiah 45:18

Health Threats Posed by Diesel Emissions in New Jersey

Diesel emissions pose serious health threats in New Jersey.

• Research shows that each year diesel emissions cause 880 premature deaths, 1,300 non-fatal heart attacks and over 100,000 lost work days in New Jersey.
• Diesel emissions are a leading cause of asthma attacks and respiratory problems for New Jersey’s children.
• New Jersey has the third worst diesel emissions of any state. Only New York and California are worse.
• Communities of color and the poor are more likely to live in cities and near diesel sources and are heavily impacted because of exposure to the highest diesel exhaust levels.

Source: Clean Air Task Force

Find Out About Diesel Health Threats in Your Community

The Clean Air Task Force, founded in 1999, is a national organization dedicated to restoring clean air and healthy environments through scientific research, public education and legal advocacy.

At CATF's web site not only will you find highly informative yet understandable discussions regarding the impact of many forms of air pollution, including diesel emissions, but you can type in your own zip code and get an instant analysis of the degree of diesel pollution in your community, including compared to other communities in your state and the nation.

Why are Diesel Emissions an Issue of Environmental Justice?

These emissions – which are harmful to human health – impact disproportionately our state’s most vulnerable populations – urban communities and children in particular.  Diesel truck traffic is often highest in urban areas, where NJ’s poor communities and communities of color are heavily concentrated.  Due to the density of population, traffic congestion, and worse than average air quality in urban areas to start with, diesel exposure adds to an already bad problem.  Every one of NJ’s major cities is located in a county that does not meet federal Air Quality standards as set forth in the Clean Air Act.

School buses are another major source of diesel emissions, which affects the children who ride these buses.  Ironically, children in rural areas of the state who have longer daily bus rides to and from school suffer from a larger exposure to diesel emissions.

GreenFaith’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Campaign

GreenFaith is asking Governor Corzine to extend the new diesel emissions reduction law by issuing an Executive Order requiring companies with state contracts to retrofit their diesel-powered on-road vehicles and construction equipment. The engine retrofits will reduce diesel emissions. Join GreenFaith in calling for this step towards cleaner air. Write the Governor asking him to issue an Executive Order to reduce diesel emissions. To help you in this effort, GreenFaith can provide you with resources for your advocacy; see below.

Advocacy Resources to Reduce Diesel Emissions

GreenFaith is providing individuals and houses of worship with a letter writing packet that includes:

• a sample letter to Governor Corzine
• a bulletin insert introducing people of diverse traditions to this issue (.pdf)
• a fact sheet on the health threats from diesel emissions (.pdf)
• GreenFaith can also provide guest speakers on this issue; if you're interested, e-mail us at info@GreenFaith.org.

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"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,' motivate me to include the struggles against environmental racism and economic injustice in my lifelong commitment to social justice activism. No group of people should be forced to bear the disproportionate burdens of having incinerators, landfills, sewage treatment plants, oil refineries, and other polluters in their communities because of the color of their members’ skin or income level."
Read more about Valorie Caffee and her work